Page 127 of Remiss

“What’s in there?” Mattie asked suspiciously.

“It’s a virgin daiquiri,” Harley said. “I have ours inside. I just wanted to bring Axel’s his first.”

Lifting her head, Winnie nodded. “Yeah. The man of the house always has to be served first.”

“Exactly,” Harley agreed, turned and walked away.

She wore long jeans and a long-sleeved sweater. The rest of them were in swimwear. The way she kept herself covered struck Mattie as odd. However, she no longer felt comfortable enough talking to her. Maybe, when she got home, she’d talk to CJ or Ryan. Both?

“You’re so cool, Axel,” Winnie gushed, breaking into Mattie’s thoughts.

Axel smiled. “Like Diesel?”

“You want to be like Diesel?” Mattie asked skeptically, wiping the remaining sunscreen onto her own arms. “That’s…that’s a goal.”

“Diesel’s so cool,” the little boy gushed.

Mattie decided to keep her opinion to herself. Diesel definitelywashandsome with his dark hair, gray eyes, and movie star good looks. She understood why Rebel had a crush on him. But Mattie couldn’t see her cousin with him. A man like Diesel was rumored to be would extinguish all of Rebel’s light and joy. He was heartless with a very bloody reputation. As for Axel, he was a bright kid who deserved a better future than following in Diesel’s footsteps.

“My shoulders are hurting so bad, Matt,” Axel complained, sucking up more of his daiquiri as Harley returned with a tray containing five more glasses. “Can you give me a massage?”

“I got a idea,” Winnie crowed, her brown eyes lighting up. “We can all rub Ax.” She pointed to herself. “I can rub his feet.Harley, you can rub his arms while Mattie does his shoulders. Mama rubs Dad’s head sometimes.” She looked at Axel. “Do you want your head rubbed?”

Axel snapped his brows together. “Like Uncle Cash?”

“Uh huh,” Winnie responded brightly. “He likes them. He says there’s nothing like a man having his heads rubbed.”

Oh. Well. Mattie was certain Uncle Cash and Aunt Ophelia didn’t intend for Winnie to hearthatconversation.

“I just don’t know where he put his other head.”

“Oh,” Harley said while Mattie clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming with laughter. That was wrong of her, but the situation was funny.

Apparently not to Axel, though. He scowled. “If I say your dad is a mean motherfucker would you cry again, Winnie?”

“No!” Mattie inserted quickly. Her little cousin had a pair of lungs on her. She cried at the drop of a hat, too. “Because you aren’t saying that. Right, Ax?”

Sipping his drink, he eyed her. “My shoulders are still hurting really bad.”

“I like Winnie’s idea,” Harley inserted. “I mean the man of the house has to be rewarded for taking care of us.”

“What do you want me to rub?” Winnie asked.

“My feet,” Axel answered without hesitation. “Harley, you can rub my arms. Mattie, you do my back.” He looked at his little brother. “Gunner, you bring Blade back inside. Instead of reading, I’ll teach you how to fight. I promise I won’t drop kick you or Blade too hard.”

“No!” Mattie and Harley chorused.

It alarmed Mattie that Axel intended to drop kick the little boys at all.

“Come on,” she said, walking around to where Gunner and Blade stood. She took each of their hands and guided them toone of the umbrella tables. “Sit and enjoy your daiquiris. As soon as one of the adults come out, we’ll get in the pool.”

Twenty minutes later, Mattie was certain Axel was basking in their attention as he kicked back on the chaise lounge, eyes closed, and sipping his drink.

Winnie giggled every time Axel wiggled his toes or talked to her, while Mattie took the time to study Harley and wondered at her haunted eyes.

The patio door opened and Rebel stuck her head out, saw Harley, and jerked herself back inside.

Seeing Harley’s disappointment, Mattie turned toward the door. “I’ll talk to her.”